Cheryl Cole has defended her giant tattoo of a rose, saying it was “art” and comparing her “form of expression” to music, dance and painting.

But while she’s delighted with the red and black design now, she might come to regret it one day.

The tattoo, which takes over her entire bottom as well as her lower back, looks interesting on her pert 30-year-old backside. But what about when she hits 80?

At least the singer will be in good company – she’s not the only famous person to get inked with regrettable artwork...

(Photo: Twitter/PA)

Katie Price

She chose not to undergo painful laser removal to scrub the tattoo of ex-husband Peter Andre’s name from her wrist.

Just weeks after announcing the end of their three-year marriage, mum-of-three Katie spent £85 getting a cross tattooed through his name while on holiday in Ibiza.

The 35-year-old clearly didn’t learn from the experience.

In 2011 she was spotted with a tattoo of the date 27-02-11 with ‘Leo’ written above it – to note the day she first met then-boyfriend Leandro Penna. They split the following year.

Tattoo count: Six – at least

Biggest: A garter tattoo around her right thigh

(Photo: Mirrorpix/Getty)

David Beckham

The former England footballer has 32 tattoos, including full sleeves on both his arms.

He claims he loves them all, despite the Sanskrit misspelling of his wife Victoria’s name in one.

Becks, 38, said: “I don’t regret any of them. They all have a meaning. That’s important.”

Tattoo count: 32

Biggest: Apart from his full sleeves, the winged figure on his back

Jesse Metcalfe

IN 2007, just before he went into rehab for his drinking, the Desperate Housewives star got a tattoo of his then-girlfriend Nadine Coyle on his arm. Naked.

They split up shortly afterwards, leaving Jesse, 34, with just a tattoo he regretted.

He said: “If I could get it removed, I would. At the same time, it’s my favourite tattoo.

“I think it’s beautiful but it was a bit impulsive, a bit impetuous and a bit immature.”

Tattoo count: Three

Biggest: Naked Nadine

(Photo: Zayn Malik Getty/Twitter)

Zayn Malik

It probably seemed the ultimate way to say “I love you” when Zayn decided to get a tattoo of girlfriend Perrie Edwards.

And while the One Direction boys like their ink, Zayn, 20, pushed the boat out with his cartoon-style tattoo of the Little Mix star in a beanie and CND T-shirt.

They are now engaged but if they get married Perrie will face looking at her 20-year-old face for the rest of her life.

Even Perrie was speechless at what he had done. Zayn said: “I didn’t tell her before I had it done and surprised her with it when I came back from the States one day. She was shocked at first, but loves it now.”

Tattoo count: At least 24

Biggest: Perrie – it fills his upper right arm

Jackson Rathbone

It's never advisable to get a tattoo of your loved one but it’s worse when the object of your ­affection isn’t even a person.

Twilight star Jackson, 28, revealed his tattoo last year – a bottle of Heinz ketchup on his calf.

He said: “I love ketchup. My dad would say ‘Do you want a little hamburger with

that ketchup?’”

His love should outlive any Hollywood relationship.

Tattoo count: At least four

Biggest: Ketchup

Johnny Depp

What is worse than a tattoo suggesting you have a drink problem? One that says you’ll love your girlfriend forever.

Johnny, 50, had a ‘Winona Forever’ tattoo done on his right arm during a three-year relationship with Winona Ryder.

When they split in 1993, the Hollywood actor had it changed to ‘Wino Forever’.

Tattoo count: At least 30

Biggest: Portraits of his mother and grandfather

(Photo: Getty)

Chris Brown

When Chris Brown attacked his on-off girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, leaving her bloodied and bruised, the violence sent shock waves round the world.

The thuggish singer was sentenced to five years’ probation and six months of community service and even spoke of his regret at the attack.

Then he decided to get a tattoo which looked bizarrely like Rihanna’s battered face on his neck last year.

Despite a close resemblance to the Umbrella singer, Brown’s spokesman denied the inking was of Rihanna and claimed it was a “sugar skull”, associated with the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration.

He said: “His tattoo is a sugar skull. It is not Rihanna or an abused woman as erroneously reported.”

Tattoo count: Countless

Biggest: Tyrannosaurus Rex on the left-hand side of his torso

Tom Arnold

If it’s silly to ever get a tattoo of your other half when you’re at the height of romantic bliss, it’s even sillier to get one done when your marriage is pretty much on the rocks. Just ask actor Tom Arnold.

He first got together with actress Roseanne Barr in 1983 but their relationship was difficult because of his drinking and drug-taking. As their four-year marriage hit the rocks in 1994, Tom decided a tattoo of Roseanne on his chest would do wonders to rekindle their failing romance. It didn’t.

The 54-year-old said: “On Valentine’s Day that year I said I’m going to save the marriage and got a 12-hour tattoo of her face on my chest. Stupidest thing I ever did.”

Tom then spent 18 months having the tattoo removed.

Tattoo count: One remaining

Biggest: Formerly the Roseanne illustration, now some Chinese symbols on his leg

(Photo: Getty/Twitter)

Sarah Harding

It is always good to have a phrase to live by, but if it is: “Don’t be Bitter — Glitter” would you really want it tattooed on your back?

Well, yes if you are Sarah Harding.

The Girls Aloud star, 31, then spent a year having two huge Phoenix designs inked on her shoulders either side of the words of wisdom, taking up most of her upper back.

It might be her favourite motto but it’s not exactly Shakespeare, is it?.

Tattoo count: At least five

Biggest: The Phoenixes

Tulisa

She already had a giant unicorn on her right shoulder and “The Female Boss” written along her right arm, so perhaps it should not have been too much of a surprise when Tulisa revealed her latest less-than-classy tattoo.

The 24-year-old showed off the new design on holiday as she flashed a four-leaf clover next to the words “Lucky you” just visible above her bikini bottoms.

She has several other inkings, including one which reads: “She is strong when she is weak, She is brave when she is scared, She is humble when she is victorious” on her lower back.

She previously spoke about her secret tattoo, saying: “I’ve got five, but one of them is a secret tattoo that you don’t know what it is or where it is.”

Tattoo count: Five

Biggest: The unicorn

£2k to get rid of one

If a tattoo is really that bad, removing it is an option. But it can be painful and costly.

Traditional methods of removing a tattoo included dermabrasion or using acid to strip away layers of skin.

But laser technology is now the preferred choice.

A beam of light looks for colour contrasts between the skin and ink and pulses break the ink down into small particles which the body can absorb.

It’s not perfect and often leaves outlines – and it’s not cheap.

Depending on the size, colour and intensity of the tattoo a session can cost between £50 and £200. It can take between eight and 10 sessions or up to £2,000 to remove just one.